Brenda Molony

Brenda Molony is off to another function, and one that requires arriving home late after a full day at the office. Tonight, she's attending an informational house party in the Habersham community for the Valentine Ball, the annual fundraising event for the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation.      

Brenda, senior associate of the event, is getting to know the host couple and their guests, who may be interested in attending or volunteering at this year's 22nd annual black-tie gala on Feb. 12. The informal gathering has attracted about 40 people.

This year's theme is "Love In Any Language." Money raised will be used for the expansion and updating of the hospital's emergency center. Over the years, the gala has raised more than $3.3 million to benefit the hospital.  Judging by the reactions, the informational party - which is new to ball planning this year - accomplished what it set out to do: generate buzz for potential gala goers and recruit new volunteers. "One lady said she's going to help with auction displays. Another lady came up and asked 'What help do you need?' Other people volunteered to help address invitations," Brenda said. It is people like these who have helped make the Valentine Ball a success since the inaugural event in 1990.

Brenda has held the title of event organizer for 11 years and stands atop the long list of people associated with the ball. It was a job tailor-made for the wife and mother of two, who is friendly and caring by nature, confident in her abilities and has spent much of her adult life fund-raising in some capacity.  Before she was named the hospital's event planner, Brenda headed Artscapade. The annual event raised money for the Beaufort County School District art programs and is no longer held. She started her current job in 2000 and is the third person to hold the position.

"I enjoy working with different groups of people. There are so many different personalities. In Beaufort, you've got the locals who you work with and you have the people moving in," Brenda said. And let's not forget the army of volunteers Brenda oversees. "We call her our paid volunteer," said Anne Helm, co-chair of the year's gala. "There are a lot of personalities to handle and the best way to describe Brenda is she has  thick skin. Her ego is not in it and that's a big part of it."

The number of volunteers exceeds 400, many of whom are assigned to one of 14 committees, ranging from decoration or auction duties to organizing high school students for valet parking. Other volunteers are responsible for hosting dinner parties in private homes. The signature activity of the event was the idea of Alice Moss, the executive director of the BMH Foundation. "We find a lot of different hospitals call and ask, 'How do you raise that much money? What do you do that's different than what we're doing?'" Brenda said. "It's the dinner parties. People really like them because you go to a house that maybe you've never been into. You might meet somebody who you might never know otherwise."

This year, more than 600 people are expected to attend dinner parties at about 50 homes. The size of the parties range from ten to 30 guests, Brenda said. "We sent the letters out to a targeted list of people. Within the first ten days, people signed up to host dinner parties," Brenda said.

After dinner, guests go to the Lyceum on Parris Island Marine Depot for live music, dancing, an open bar, desserts and an auction. Anne, who is co-chairing the event with Lisa Mazzeo, is a perfect example of how new residents get involved. No sooner than she and her husband, DeWitt Helm, moved here from New York, Anne got involved with the ball. The upcoming gala will be her eighth, moving through the ranks of dinner guest, dinner co-hostess, hostess, auction, display, decorations, sponsorships and publicity committees. "It's incredible. I've been to New York City benefits all my life," Anne said. "It's completely unique because every single community here is graciously willing to host these parties. It really is the best example of Southern hospitality."

Up Close:

South Carolina living: Brenda was born in Spartanburg and lived in Charleston and Hilton Head before moving to Beaufort 21 years ago.
Family: Married to Ray Molony for 28 years; daughter Bridgett, 24; son Trey, 19.
What makes a good volunteer?: Of course, being organized. Having the time to work and willing to work with the other volunteers.
For more information: Go to www.valentineball.org.